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Deep Dive: Sweet Violets (2012)

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Sweet Violets
Sweet Violets examines the cultural significance of violets during the Gilded Age and beyond. The film details how these flowers became the preferred choice for Valentine's Day, Easter, and corsages, particularly in the years leading up to World War I. It focuses on the growers in Rhinebeck, New York, who played a crucial role in this floral trend. The documentary shows the scale of violet production, noting that millions of sweet violets (viola odorata) were shipped from Rhinebeck to major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago. This aspect of the film emphasizes the economic impact of violet cultivation in the region and its connection to broader fashion trends of the time.

Why Watch

  • •See how Rhinebeck became a violet shipping hub.
  • •Find out why violets were popular in high fashion.
  • •Meet the growers behind the violet trade.

Did You Know

•Rhinebeck, New York, shipped millions of sweet violets before WWI.
•Violets were the top flower choice for Valentine's Day and Easter.
•The film covers the Gilded Age's floral fashion trends.

Perfect For

Flower enthusiastsFashion history buffsGilded Age scholars